Digestibility, fermentation and microbiological characteristics of Calotropis procera silage with different quantities of grape pomace

Abstract

Preserving forage plants adapted to a semi-arid climate as silage may minimize the animal feed deficit during drought. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different quantities of grape pomace added to Calotropis procera silage on its fermentation, in vitro digestibility, total digestible nutrients and microbiology. A completely randomized experimental design was used with four treatments (0, 10, 20 and 40% fresh matter) and four replicates. The silos were opened after 90 days of ensilage, and the soluble carbohydrate, ethanol, organic acid and ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations; pH; fermentation loss; dry matter (DM) recovery; DM density, and microbial populations were determined. The pH (3.96-3.87) was adequate for ensiling in all silage samples. The soluble carbohydrate concentration decreased (p<0.05), and the ethanol concentration increased with increasing quantities of grape pomace. The lactic acid concentration decreased (p<0.05) from 5.3 to 1.94% DM, and the acetic, propionic and butyric acid concentrations increased with increasing quantities of grape pomace. The lactic acid bacteria decreased linearly (p <0.05), varying from 6.43 to 5.82 log CFU/g silage. The mold and yeast population variations fit best using a third-order polynomial equation (p <0.05). Enterobacteria and Clostridium spp were not observed. Adding grape pomace to the silage increased the effluent and gas loss; the latter varied from 5.35 to 14.4%. The total digestible nutrient (TDN) variation fit best using a second-order polynomial equation, and the maximum value was estimated at 82.95% DM with 3.5% grape pomace using the regression equation. The percent digestibility decreased linearly (p<0.05) with increasing quantities of grape pomace. We show that Calotropis procera has potential as silage even without adding grape pomace.Index terms: Fermentation losses; microorganisms; organic acids. RESUMOA conservação de plantas forrageiras adaptadas ao clima Semiárido na forma de silagem pode minimizar o déficit alimentar dos animais nos períodos de estiagem. Nesse contexto, objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de níveis de inclusão de resíduo de uva na dinâmica fermentativa, na digestibilidade in vitro, nos nutrientes digestíveis totais e na microbiologia da silagem de flor-de-seda (Calotropis procera). Em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos (0, 10, 20 e 40% na matéria natural) e quatro repetições. Após 90 dias os silos foram abertos, e foram determinados os teores de carboidratos solúveis, etanol, ácidos orgânicos, pH e nitrogênio amoniacal, perdas fermentativas, recuperação da MS e densidade, populações microbianas. Em todas as silagens o pH encontrado mostrou-se adequado ao processo de ensilagem (variação de 3,96 a 3,87). À medida que aumentou os níveis de resíduo de uva foi verificado redução (P<0,05) nos teores de carboidratos solúveis e aumento nos valores de etanol. Houve reduções (P<0,05) nos teores de ácido lático de 5,3 a 1,94% da MS e aumento nos teores de acético, propiônico e but...

Morphophysiological aspects of young Calotropis procera plants submitted to different shading levels

“…The seeds of silk flower were collected directly in different matrices plants in the municipality of Catolé do Rocha, Paraíba, Brazil. Before planting, the seeds were soaked in distilled water for a period of 12 hours, then sown in plastic pots with capacity for 5 dm 3 , and in substrate formulated by organic soil and sand (3:1 v/v). The chemical analysis of this substrate was: pH: 4.7; P: 109.81 mg dm -3 ; K + : 216.02 mg dm -3 ; Na + : 0.48 cmol dm -3 ; H + +Al +3 : 6.11 cmol dm -3 ; Al +3 : 0.05 cmol dm -3 ; Ca +2 : 4.20 cmol dm -3 ; Mg +2 : 2.60 cmol dm -3 ; base sum: 7.83 cmol dm -3 ; cation exchange capacity: 13.94 cmol dm -3 ; and organic matter: 65.31 g dm -3 .…”

“…-Apocynaceae] is a spontaneous species very common in the Northeast region of Brazil. Several uses have been attributed to this species, such as the use in folk medicine in the treatment of ulcers, tumors, hemorrhoids and diseases of the spleen, liver and abdomen [1]; it can be used as a source of green fertilizer, especially in intercropped crops [2], as well as in animal supplementation [3], mainly in semi-arid regions.…”

Chemical Constituents and Uses of Calotropis Procera and Calotropis Gigantea – A Review (Part I – The Plants as Material and Energy Resources)

“…It has been suggested that the toxicity of the plants for animals may depend on biotypes and on the environmental conditions during the plants' growth [109,110]. It has also been noted that drying may result in the loss of some of the more toxic components such as flavonoid and cardiotonic glycosides of the plant material [111,112]. Additionally, there have been recent efforts to find safe limits to include the plants in hay and silage as an alternative feed in arid and semi-arid regions [111,113].…”

“…It has also been noted that drying may result in the loss of some of the more toxic components such as flavonoid and cardiotonic glycosides of the plant material [111,112]. Additionally, there have been recent efforts to find safe limits to include the plants in hay and silage as an alternative feed in arid and semi-arid regions [111,113]. In NW Brazil [114], and to a smaller extent in parts of India [115], silk flower hay (SHF, C. procera SW.) has been reported to be suitable for feeding goats, sheep, and camels.…”

Microbial additives affect silage quality and ruminal dry matter degradability of avocado (<em>Persia Americana</em>) pulp silage

“…Another by-product is grape pomace (GP) from the wine production industry. This GP can be used to improve silage-making characteristics of high moisture forages by increasing the DM matter content and enriching the silage with nutrients that remained following wine production (Dos Santos Belem et al, 2016).…”